Victimless Crimes or Consensual Crimes

Victimless Crimes or consensual crimes are an action that is forbidden by law, yet does not hurt, harm, or violate certain rights of people other than the perpetrator, such as prostitution, sodomy law, gambling, breastfeeding, nudity, loitering, consuming illegal drugs, and operating a vehicle without a seatbelt or helmet (Victimless pp). Those who seek reform of the statutes believe that people should be allowed to do what they wish as long as it does not violate the rights of another person (Victimless pp). They also argue that removing these laws would boost the economy, citing figures in excess of $200 billion (Victimless pp). Moreover, they argue that fewer people in prison would boost the workforce, and also reduce the need for correctional facilities, thus allowing law enforcement the opportunity to focus on serious crimes (Victimless pp). Advocates of the victimless crime laws believe that these laws are for the good of society as well as for the good of the perpetrator, thus, keeping these laws on the books will better society as a whole (Victimless pp). For example, drug use may cause an individual to be less effective in the workplace, and may also cause an increase in insurance costs since drug users are thought to be unhealthy (Victimless pp). Helmet and seat belt laws also reduce insurance needs for victims of traffic accidents, thus reducing costs for the population as a whole (Victimless pp). Moreover, many advocates believe that restriction of these acts would degrade the community, possibly through licentious or blasphemous acts (Victimless pp). However, many of these laws are rooted in the customs of religion (Victimless pp).

Bookmaking and illegal betting are not victimless crimes and many of those involved often stray into other areas of crime, such as avoiding taxation (Keisser pp). Moreover, those involved in gambling often leave behind destitute families who are left to pick up the pieces of their broken lives (Keisser pp). Most areas of the country, such as Long Beach, California, try to make open gaming as unfriendly as possible, and though it still may be a misdemeanor arrest, it does allow law enforcement to seize assets and recoup revenue for the state (Keisser pp).

As of 2000, all but three states had some form of legal gambling, and 68% of American adults gambled during the previous year, losing well over $50 billion, which constitutes an astonishing yearly revenue for the gambling industry (Kelly pp). Since the widespread legalization of gambling, illegal forms have greatly diminished, for example, state lotteries have largely replaced the illegal numbers rackets, and hundreds of legal casinos has lessened the demand for illegal table or slot gambling (Kelly pp). However, sports gambling, which is still illegal, is thriving, and one study estimates that Americans bet between $80 billion and $380 billion annually on sports events, making it the most widespread and popular form of gambling in the U.S. (Kelly pp). Sports gambling was made illegal by the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, out of concern for the corrupting influence that gambling has over games and players through point shaving and game fixing (Kelly pp). Yet, bookies are available throughout the country and on college campuses, and are increasingly inked with organized crime (Kelly pp). In fact, it is safe to say that student bookies are present at every college and university, and there is no dispute that the impact of sports gambling is being felt on campuses across the country (Saum pp). Federal and state laws prohibit the placing of bets on professional and college sporting events in every state except Nevada, yet illegal sports wagering continues to prosper (Saum pp). Without strong efforts to enforce state and Federal laws prohibiting illegal sports wagering, the integrity of college athletics may be at stake, for sports wagering has the potential to undermine the integrity of sports contests and jeopardize the eligibility of student-athletes (Saum pp).